Left to Right, Miah Nwosu, Andrew Skinner, Angela Amoroso

Angela Amoroso, Executive Director and Founder was a professional dancer and choreographer in New York. She has studied with some of the finest teachers in New York in all of the disciplines of Dance. Ballet with Wilson Morelli and at The Joffrey Ballet, Jazz with Phil Black, Pepsi Bethel and Alvin Ailey, Modern with Martha Graham, Tap with Bob Audy and Phil Black. Her involvement with Community Theater on Long Island for both performance and choreography include Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, Anything Goes and West Side Story. Angela has also been a member of NYC's "Dance Circle" Repertory Company where she has choreographed as well as performed. In 1982, Angela performed in the Equity Showcase of Jesus Christ Superstar in Manhattan. Her creative talents as a dancer and choreographer combined with her love for children have made the Scripps Performing Arts Academy a great success since it's inception in 1987.

Andrew Skinner, Director of Operations bio coming soon

Miah Nwosu, Artistic Director, Ballet Mistress began seriously studying ballet at age eight at The Scripps Performing Arts Centre (now Academy) shortly after participating in a Miramar Ranch Elementary After School Program. That June she performed in her first production with the SPAC, "Earthkalah". She trained at Scripps Performing Arts for seven years, primarily under Lili Griffths, former Soloist dancer of the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet. She spent the next two years continuing her studies at City Ballet of San Diego under Steven and Betsy Wistrich in their pre-professional division. There she performed with the company in two seasons of the Nutcracker and their company premiere of "Don Quixote," and various other productions. In the summer of 2001, she trained intensively at The Ailey School in New York City. Miah later attended Fordham University in New York City, where she took classes at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. Miah also trained extensively in Jazz and Tap.

Upon her return to San Diego, Miah joined C. Anthony Cole Repertory Theatre and later La Diego Dance Theatre for its inaugural season. She was rehearsal coach and dancer representative for the company and has had the pleasure of teaching audition classes for both companies and has served as a guest teacher at several local dance schools.

Miah has served as head choreographer for SPAA since 2003 and has successfully mounted original productions and set full length classical ballets including an annual all youth production of The Nutcracker, The Storyteller (2003 and 2004), Earthkalah (2005), Over the Rainbow (2006 and 2007), Our Favorite Ballets (2007), Prokofiev's Cinderella (2008), Ballet Does the Rat Pack (2009), La Passion La Danse La Vie (2009), Glazunov's The Season (2010), La Boutique Fantasque (2010), Grand Pas de Quatre (2011) and an original version of Les Rendez-vous (2011).

Since 2003, Miah has developed a cohesive ballet training program at The Academy that has provided students with the spring board and support system to launch them successfully into collegiate and professional dance programs including The Boston Conservatory (SPAA graduates from '09 and '10) and California Institute for the Arts ('10) and multiple summer intensive acceptances (several with scholarships) to prestigious programs across the nation.

Miah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Art with a Photography concentration and handles all Graphic Design, Photography and Print Work for SPAA and SBT.
She currently teaches Ballet III and up at both locations and overseas all Academy programs. She is also the Artistic Director of SPAA's youth company in residence, Scripps Ballet Theatre

Audrey Bondoc began dancing at the age of 4 ½ at the California Ballet School where she studied ballet, jazz and modern. She quickly rose to higher levels and was accepted into the Junior Company and performed in many productions. She was Captain of a National Champion Dance Team and won many awards for her solo work.

Audrey continued her dance training at Academy of Performing Arts and at Mesa College performing with their dance company around the southern California area. In 2003, she was a member of Unity Dance Ensemble and Unity II under the direction of Tessandra Chavez.

In 2007 she moved to San Francisco and trained at SF Dance Center, ODC School and Shawl-Anderson Dance Center. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from SFSU also performing and touring with their dance company. While studying in SF, she found her love for Pilates which encouraged her to receive her certification. Audrey found her passion in teaching dance in 2000 and has been teaching all over San Diego and the Bay Area ever since. Her students have been accepted into many prestigious summer intensives around the world and have been accepted into collegiate and professional dance programs. She currently is a guest instructor teaching dance courses at Mesa College.

She wants her students to thrive not only as dancers but as unique individuals. “Dance is not just about technique; it’s about how we feel when we dance or when we witness the heart and soul of movement and music and it’s just magical.”

Andrea Denney, originally from Boston, MA, has been painting, drawing and creating art from the time she picked up her first crayon. Those around Andrea have celebrated her artistic abilities right from the start. Encouraged by her high school art teachers, she enrolled in college level weekend courses at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston.

Upon acceptance to college, Andrea declared her major initially in Graphic Design as she began working towards a profession in the art field. While an upper classman, Andrea was asked to create a painting for the annual Composition Major Concert’s community-wide promotional poster. She was also invited by faculty members to participate in the annual Student Art Show, where she took home an honorable mention. Andrea proudly earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Advanced Fine Arts from Westfield State University. Upon matriculation, she was named the 2008 recipient of the Arno Maris Art Scholarship Award, demonstrating her expertise among her peers.

With a long-term goal of obtaining a Master’s Degree in Expressive Art Therapies, Andrea currently works helping children affected by an autism spectrum diagnosis work towards recovery. Her positive attitude coupled with a child-like nature, as well as her passion for therapeutic deep play and the arts, has allowed Andrea continued success as an artist and autism specialist. Andrea is excited to be a part of the Fine Arts program at The Scripps Performing Arts Academy.

Jenny Gilmore was trained at the Sacramento Ballet School under Barbara Crockett and the Sacramento Ballet Co. under Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda. As an apprentice with the Sacramento Ballet she performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Serenade, Double Contrast, The Four Temperments, Nutcracker (Canadian tour) and a principal role in Ron Cunningham’s Carmina Burana. Jenny attended summer programs on full merit scholarship at the San Francisco Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy at Vail, and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School.

In 1998 Jenny attended Pacific Northwest Ballet as a professional division student on full scholarship where she danced in productions of Midsummer Night’s Dream both in Seattle and on the London tour, Cinderella, The Four Temperaments, Romeo and Juliet, Kent Stowell’s Carmina Burana and The Nutcracker.

In 1999, she was invited to dance at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA. Between 1999-2003, she performed Balanchine’s Divertimento, Don Quixote, Theme and Variations, Jewels, and Nutcracker, as well as works by Paul Taylor, Dwight Rhoden and Ben Stevenson.

Jenny returned to her home state of California to attend the LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals) program at St. Mary’s College of California where she was given a partial merit scholarship and earned her Bachelor of Performing Arts. While in college Jenny taught ballet at El Dorado Dance Academy, Sacramento Ballet, Ovations Dance Studio and coached for Shely Pac dancers. She choreographed works that won awards at Dance Masters of America and toured to Edinburgh Scotland.

In 2005 Jenny was able to participate as a master teacher and judge for DMA. That year, she also returned to the stage with the Sacramento Ballet where she was able to perform again in such works as Concerto Borocco, Four Temperments, Stars and Stripes and soloist roles in Ron Cunningham’s Dracula, Nutcracker and Carmina Burana. She was also featured in the documentary “Why Dance?” by James Manning.

Sarah Hunter took her first acting class at the age of 3, and the love of performing has been with her ever since.  She began private vocal instruction under Dr. Sara Lopez beginning at age 5.  As a child, Sarah had a busy career in print ads and television commercials, and enjoyed working for many years for Mattel, until she grew out of the "Barbie" phase.  She has performed in countless productions with Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista, as well as dozens of other theaters through out San Diego.  

Sarah graduated from San Francisco State University with a BA in Theatre Arts and a Minor in Speech Communications, with an emphasis in Performance Studies.  She has trained in numerous acting, vocal and movement techniques including Alexander, Meisner and Suzuki under Mohammad Kowsar, Jo Tomalin and Yukihiro Goto, among others.  Favorite roles in San Francisco include Yelena in Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya," and Lady Capulet in "Romeo and Juliet."  Sarah also had the opportunity to perform in many original works, including her own solo work, "American Soles."  While in San Francisco, she was very active in the local theatre scene and continued to appear in television, film and voice over projects through out the bay area.    

Since returning to San Diego, Sarah has once again begun to perform with local companies. Most recently, she performed with OnStage Playhouse as Elaine in Neil Simon's "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," a role for which she was nominated for both Aubrey and Aldea Awards for Best Supporting Actress.

Sarah is thrilled to have joined the incredible talent at Scripps Performing Arts Academy, and looks forward every day to sharing her passion for theatre with her students.

Stephanie Harvey is a native of Pittsburgh, PA. She earned her BFA in Dance from Point Park University where she performed works by Martha Graham, Bill. T Jones, Jason McDole, and Douglas Bentz. In Pittsburgh, Stephanie danced with H20 Contemporary Dance and taught and choreographed for the company’s school, the Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh. In New York, Stephanie trained with Doug Varone and Dancers, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and on full scholarship with Garth Fagan Dance in Rochester and is a trained gymnast. She is also a certified Power Pilates instructor and teaches at the University of San Diego.

Mandy Santiago started dancing at the early age of 3 at the Conroy Dance Centre in Brisbane, Australia where she studied RAD ballet and CSTD jazz and tap.

At the age of 15 she started working professionally throughout Australia. She has toured with the Boogie Woogies children show throughout Australia. Mandy was also a Princess Cruise lines dancer for 4 years, travelling the world with the company. She has been in many Australian television shows, commercials and events and was fortunate enough to perform in the opening stadium show for the World Games in Brisbane, Australia. Mandy also choreographed the TV commercial ‘Kicks’.

Mandy Santiago has staged, choreographed and modeled for Schwarzkopf (hair shows) and has been involved in Ariel Angels production team and Salsa Mania in Australia which afforded her the opportunity to perform at the Gold Coast Indy, working along side the drivers and performing in the opening show. She performed with the contemporary dance company UDANCEELECTRA in San Francisco,showcasing San Franciscan fashion artist Joui Turandot in ‘ Vagadu’. Recently, Mandy choreographed, staged and performed in a tap show at San Diego Royal Jam.

She has been blessed to have worked alongside World renowned choreographers here in the USA and in Australia.  

Mandy is thrilled to be in San Diego, and hopes to instill a love of movement in all her classes, which are nurturing, fun, knowledgeable and strive to let the individual student thrive. Mandy has taken a short leave this year but should be back in 2013!

Robyn Shifren trained at the Royal Ballet School in London and performed with the Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, London and PACT and NAPAC in South Africa. Robyn has worked with many dance notables including Dame Ninette de Valois, Kenneth Macmillan, Ashley Killar and Patricia Neary. She has had the opportunity to dance several featured roles including Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Giselle in Giselle and several other roles throughout her career.

Robyn's high energy class and desire to pull out the best in her students makes her an SPAA favorite!
She currently teaches an OPEN Intermediate to Advanced Ballet class on Tuesdays in Scripps Ranch from 5:00-6:30 pm and an Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate Ballet class on Fridays from 4:00-5:30 pm in Carmel Valley.

Teresa Wells was born in Kansas City, Mo. where she trained with Tatiana Doukoudovska at the University of Missouri Conservatory of Music and Dance. She began her professional career at the age of 13 with the Performing Arts Foundation where she performed with such notable people as Morgot Fonteyn and Edward Villella. From the age of 12 she was a member and later, a feature soloist with the University of Mo. Ballet Company and the Kansas City Ballet. Since moving to California, Ms. Wells has been company teacher for the Golden State Ballet, Artistic Director and founder of Mirabile Ballet Co., Executive Director and founder of the Community Arts Advisotry Council and it's programming for which she received a S.D. County Board of Supervisor's Commendation Award for contributions to the arts in our area. She served as the Artistic Director for the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet in Balboa Park and has taught locally for the San Diego Ballet, Centre City Ballet, Academy of Performing Arts, San Diego Ballet and California Ballet schools, as well as being a master teacher for schools in her native state of Missouri.